Single-use plastics, often also referred to as disposable plastics, are commonly used for plastic packaging and include items intended to be used only once before they are thrown away. Although these can be recycled, the 100% collection of single-use plastics is hardly achievable.

Due to their light weight, they are more harmful to the environment. They often finished their course into river streams and oceans because of high consumption in on-the-go habits of consumers. They include, among other items, grocery bags, food packaging, bottles, straws, containers, cups, lids and cutlery.

In 2020, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Mauritius took bold decisions in banning the single-use plastics effective as from January 2021.